Centrifugally actuated clutch



Feb. 16, 1965 W. HOFFMANN CENTRIFUGALLY ACTUATED CLUTCH Filed Jan. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1965 w. HOFFMANN 3,169,618

CENTRIFUGALLY ACTUATED CLUTCH Filed Jan. 18. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v,576.7 F/C-Z United States Pate-nt s3 3 Claims. (Clin-aos) This invention relates to centrifugally actuated clutches, and more particularly to aclutch of a type in which the driving member of the clutch rotates and carries movable coupling members. The coupling members are forced by centrifugal force into frictional engagement with a portion of the wall of the driven clutch member when the Vdriving clutch member rotates at a speed suicient for the centrifugalforce to overcome the restraint of return springs providedl to urge the coupling members inward and away from said portion of the wall of the driven member.

Clutches of the attore-described, basically known type are simple and inexpensive. Their eld of application has been `limited greatly heretofore by the fact that their characteristics as represented by a curve on a chart of driving member speed versus driven member speed lack smoothness and reproducibility.

The friction between the two clutch members, and therefore the transmitted torque, changes abruptly at certainpointsalong the curve. The location of these points of discontinuity varies with the rate ofrvelocity change in the driving member and with other ,operational variables. It. is advantageous in clutches of theftype described that the coupling members be entirely out of contact with the, driven member when the clutch is disengaged. When theY means Patented Feb. 16, 1965 "ice a centrifugally actuated clutch of the type described which is not subject to pulsed transmission of torque' during engagement, and to abrupt changes in torque transmission during normal operation. Y Another object is the provision of a smoothly operating clutch which does not compromise the basic simplicity of the known structure in order to avoid its shortcomings.

With these and other objects in view, the invention provides means for frictionally damping the movement of the coupling members. Damping prevents abrupt changes in friction or slip, and also prevents or substantially attenuates any vibrations that may occur in the clutch and associated structure upon clutch engagement. The source of torsional pulses is practicaly eliminated by such damping. Friction means engaging the centrifugally movable Vcoupling members for frictionally opposing their movement relative to the driving clutch member are an essential feature of this invention.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure'is made in the following detailed description of preferred 'FIG. l shows a iirst embodiment of the clutch of the invention in front elevation;

FIG. 2 shows the clutch of`FIG. 1 in axial section on the-1in@ n n of F1o. 1;

slip becomes zero, and the friction betweenV the two members which controls their relative movement is now their The points of discontinuity in the characteristic curveof the conventional centrifugally actuated friction clutch of the type here discussed may cause vibrations. Engagement of the' coupling members with Vthe driven 'clutch members tends to reduce therotary speed of the coupling members. If the speed of the driving clutch part becomes low enough to cause the clutch to disengage, the resulting loss Yof load =leads to renewed acceleration `of the driving clutch part and to renewed engagement, again causing deceleration of the coupling members and-the start of another cycle of similar eventsl` Thevibrations set oli by such cyclic engagement and Vdisengagement of the clutch, and the cyclic changes in'the torque' transmitted from the driving to -the driven memberproduce undesirable noise. In severe cases, the sequence of `torque pulses may destroy the clutch or a device attached toone of tl'ieclutch halves for joint rotation. It the clutch is interposed between the motor and the wheels Vof a self-propelled vehicle, the pulsed transmission of torque between motor and wheels causes sudden jerking movements of the vehicle. This property of the known centrifugally actuated clutches has until now prevented their use in the "automotive field( on a substantial scale.

The vprimary object of this invention is the provision of FIG. 3 shows a modified clutch of the invention in front elevation, a portion of the structure being broken awayl to reveal certain working elements;

:k FIG. 4 is an axially sectional view of the clutch of FIG. 3, thesection being taken on line'lV'-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention Y in frontelevation; Y

FIG. 6 shows theV apparatus of FIG. 5V in axial section on the lineVI-VI ofFIG.5; and 1 FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show modifications of a friction member ofthe clutch of FlGS. 5 and 6. `Referring now to the drawings there is vshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a centrifugally actuated clutch the output or driven member 1 of which is a casing of substantially cylindrical cup shape. It carries a coaxial integral sleeve 11 equipped with a gear rim 10 to which apparatus driven by the clutch may be geared. Y

The input or driving member of the clutch'is a circular plate 2 coaxial with the cup-shaped casing V1 and received within the cavity .of the casing.V Rotation 'of the plate2 is therein. AThe shaft may be fastened to the plate 2 in any desired manner.

,"Iwo coupling members 3 somewhat similar in appeary anceand action to a conventional type automotive brake tions of the platejjZ. They each carry a friction facing 4 on their circularly arcuate outer circumference, and urge helical return springs 5.- The ends ofeacli spring areY Vvfastened under tensionto a stud 6 on the plate and toa fr 'ee end portion of a corresponding coupling member 3,

the latter being formedwithV an opening in which the* hook-shaped end of the springis engaged.' 'A

A hat friction lining S is interposed between each cou- Vpling' member 3 and the plate 2, and the coupling members 3 are urged against the frictionv lining S by a dished plate spring 9 the central bottom of which isn-riveted tothe plate 2 whereas its outer fiange engages a shoulder on v .3 and 4 with a Vvery advantageous safetyfeature. driving motory shouldpstall while the wheelsl or other ele- Y the friction facings 4 are spaced from the inner wall. of

the casing Rotation of the plate 2 by the non-illustrated shaft, does not change the relative position of the coupling members 3 and of the plate 2 until the centrifugal forces tending to pivotally swing the members 3 outward on the pins 7 are suihcient to overcome not only the force of the springs 5, but also the frictional drag ofthe lining S which opposes movement of `the coupling membersin any direction. j Y

Y The centrifugal outward movement of the coupling members 3 is therefore frictionally damped, and such damping prevents abrupt changes in the slip of the clutch such as would occur when the coupling members 3 were free to move outward only against the force of the springs a. The frictional damping of coupling member movement is also effective in preventing vibrations of any significant The third embodiment of' the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is equipped with three coupling members 3 linked to a central hub 12 by means of lugs 14 hingedly fastened to the hub and respective coupling members in the same manner as shown in FIGS.3 and 4. The three coupling members 3" are formed with respective arcuate grooves 23 which jointly constitute a circular channel about the axis of the clutch.' A helical spring 21 the two ends of which'are connected to form a closed loop is inserted into the .circular channel under tension, and urges the coupling members 3 inward toward .the clutch axis.

A ribbon 22 of automotive friction lining material is 'inamplitude to be set up when the load on the driven member is suliicient to reduce the speed of the driving lmemberand of a motor driving it during clutch engagement.

- The clutch engages and disengagesVV smoothly Ywithout sudden changes in transmitted torque.

The clutch illustrated in FIGS. 3y and 4 in front .eleva-l j The coupling members 3 are fastened to a central hub.

f of the invention.

terposed between the springZl andthe wall of the circular channel against which the resilient pressure of the spring 2l is directed, thereby forcing the ribbon 22 into frictional engagement with the channel wall. j

The ribbon is of a material. of sufficient stitfnessnot to buckle during its deformation by the outward movements of the coupling members 3". One end of the ribbon 22 is fastened to .one of the coupling members Vby a pin 24, and the ribbon ,extends almost in -a full circle aboutV the coupling members 3". The free end of .the ribbon 22 thus is in frictional-contact ina'll operative positions of the clutch with the same coupling member 3 to which the other ribbon end is fastened by the .pin 24.

The mode of operation of the. clutch shown in FIGS. Sand 6 is similar to thatof theafore-.described clutches Outward Y movement of jtheV coupling members 3 .is .opposed by the spring 21 and by frictional contact with the ribbon 22. Inward Vmovement of the Y coupling members 3 causes relative circumferential l2 provided with an axial threaded .bore 1 3 in which a shaft driving the clutch may besecured. Three Vpairs of j links or lugs 14 are pivoted to the hub 12 by respectiveV movementV of the ribbon 22 and of the three coupling members, and thus is also damped.

Modifications of aribbon of vfriction lining kmaterial for use-withY the clutch otFIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. YThe ribbon 22 seen in FIG. 7 does .not

length that its two endsfoverlap'in all clutch positions.

- VThe friction ribbon 22 always vforms a full. circle about to a coupling member 3 by another pivot -pin 16 which passes through a corresponding axial opening in the central portion of the respective coupling member 3'. Y

Straight aligned bores 2f? extend inwardly from two opposite radial faces of `each pair of circumferentially ad- Y jacent couplingmembers .3', and a straight `tubularlsleeve 17 is insertedin both aligned bores 20 in frictional engagement with the walls of the bores. A helical tension spring 18 is partially received. within the bore of the tubular sleeve 17; Its ends extend outward of the sleeve into the bores 2b and are fastened to the coupling mem' bers 3 by pins 19. The clutch illustrated in FIGS. 3 Vand 4 operates substantially in the same manner as the aforedescribed .clutch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the coupling members 3 of the modification of FIGS. 1 and 2 swing abouty a Y pivoted end, whereas the couplingfmembers 3' of FIGS.-

ments connected to the casing 1 are rotating in the direc-V` tion ofthe arrow in FIG. 3, the driving half ofthe clutch is taken along by the driven half only up to a speed dec termined by the dimensions and other design factors of the clutch. At relative speeds ofthe clutch halves higherk than this design speed, the clutch slips when the engine stalls.v The linkage of the coupling members to the hubv Y 12 shown in FQIGS. 3 and l4 Yalso avoids Vuneven wear fof the friction facings 4. Y

the coupling members.

The ribbon 22" illustrated in FIG. .8 combines yfea-.

tures of the-ribbons 22 and 22 yin that its Aends overlap,` and one of the ends is formed into a loop` for fastening to a coupling member 3" by a pin 24. It will .be apprekciated that the amount of damping obtained by the vseveral type of ribbons increases from ribbon 22 to ribbon 22" to ribbon 22" under otherwise equivalent conditions.

Other modifications are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to by those skilled in the art-.without departing from the spiritand scope of theinvention as hereinafter dened by the appended claims, las only preferred .embodiments thereof have been disclosed.

What is claimed is: l Y l. A centrifugallyactuated clutch comprising (a) a driving member having an axis and being mounted 4to rotate about said'axis, f Y (b) a drivenmember Vrotatable about said axis, Y Y (c) a kplurality of coupling members ina substantially adjacent and circularv relationship, each ofsaid coupling'members being provided with anY arcuate groove, said groovesforming jointly an annular channel having an inner wall portion directed toward said axis,`

8,169,618 E5 Y (f) friction means engaging said coupling members Reeences Qiteri by the Examiner for frictionally retarding .the swinging outward and UNTED STATES PATENTS inward movements of said coupling members, said friction means including an elongated friction mem- 1,715,351 6/29 Bruckmn. ber circnlariy received in said channel. to be in con- 5 2,027,970 1/ 36 Gillies. tact with said inner Wall portion. 2,()3 8,450 4/36 Roesch. 2. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein said fric- 2,596,193 5/ 52 Zieg. tion member has two end portions, said end portions over- 2,967,597 1/61 Binde);

lapping each other.

3. The clutch according to claim l, wherein said fric- 10 DAVID I. WiLLIAMGWSKY, Primary Examiner.

tion member has a longitudinal end portion secured to one of said coupling members. THGMAS J' HICKEY Exammer 

1. A CENTRIFUGALLY ACTUATED CLUTCH COMPRISING (A) A DRIVING MEMBER HAVING AN AXIS AND BEING MOUNTED TO ROTATE ABOUT SAID AXIS, (B) A DRIVEN MEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID AXIS, (C) A PLURALITY OF COUPLING MEMBERS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY ADJACENT AND CIRCULAR RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID COUPLING MEMBERS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ARCUATE GROOVE, SAID GROOVES FORMING JOINTLY AN ANNULAR CHANNEL HAVING AN INNER WALL PORTION DIRECTED TOWARD SAID AXIS, (D) PIVOT MEANS PIVOTING SAID COUPLING MEMBERS TO SAID DRIVING MEMBER SO AS TO ALLOW SAID COUPLING MEMBERS, DURING ROTATION OF SAID DRIVING MEMBER AND UPON DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRIFUGAL FORCES, TO SWING OUTWARDLY AND INWARDLY IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS INTO FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVEN MEMBER. (E) RESILIENT MEANS PROVIDED TO ACT ON SAID COUPLING MEMBERS IN OPPOSITION TO SAID CENTRIFUGAL FORCES AND THUS TO URGE SAID COUPLING MEMBERS TO SWING INWARDLY OR BACKWARDLY, SAID RESILIENT MEANS INCLUDING A TENSION SPRING MEMBER RECEIVED IN SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL AND FORMING A LOOP THEREIN, AND (F) FRICTION MEANS ENGAGING SAID COUPLING MEMBERS FOR FRICTIONALLY RETARDING THE SWINGING OUTWARD AND INWARD MOVEMENTS OF SAID COUPLING MEMBERS, SAID FRICTION MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED FRICTION MEMBER CIRCULARLY RECEIVED IN SAID CHANNEL TO BE IN CONTACT WITH SAID INNER WALL PORTION. 